Refrigerating apparatus



Nov. 26, 1935.

| A. PHILIPP 2,021,924

REFRI GERATING APPARATUS Filed April 5, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 w I /I,IIIIIII INVENTOR. Lava/m? 1y. PHIL/PP ATTORNEY.

NOV. 26, 1935. A P|-||| |PP 2,021,924

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed April 5, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Law/951105 q. P/ilL/PP BY W' QM ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 26, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Lawrence A. Philipp, Detroit, Mich assignor to Kclvinator Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corp 'ati n of Michigan This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus, and more particularly to refrigerating systems of the flooded type.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a refrigerating system of the type including a condensing element and a flooded evaporating element with a refrigerant accumulator, which serves at all times to prevent the flow of liquid refrigerant from the evaporating element to the condensing element.

I Another object of my invention is to provide a refrigerating system of the type including a condensing element and a flooded evaporating element with refrigerant accumulator of sufficient size as to permit variations in the charge of refrigerant admitted to the system without the possibilities of circulating liquid refrigerant from the evaporating element to the condensing element.

Another object of my invention is to provide a refrigerating system of the type including a condensing element, evaporating element, and a high side float mechanism, with a refrigerant accumulator at the outlet of said evaporating element, which accumulator is of suflicient size to accommodate any liquid refrigerant which may be circulated through the evaporating element either during normal operation of the system or all of the liquid refrigerant contained in the system which may be circulated through the evaporating element in the event said float mechanism becomes faulty in operation, or any other condition causing abnormal operation of said system, to thereby provide for refrigeration throughout the entire surface of the evaporating element by insuring delivery of liquid reirigerant'through said evaporating element to the outlet end thereof without the possibility of passing liquid refrigerant into said condensing element. Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view in cross section of a refrigerator cabinet in which a refrigerant evaporating element embodying features of my invention is located;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view, partly in cross section and partly in elevation, of a refrigerant evaporating element shown in Fig. 1 and showing diagraimnatically a condensing element connected to said evaporating element;

Fig. 3 is a view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig.

Fig. 4 is a viewin cross section of a refrigerant accumulator embodying features of my invention;

Fig. 5 is a view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a modified form of refrigerating appa- 5 ratus embodying features of my invention;

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary top view in cross section of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a modified form of refrigerating apparatus embodying features of my invention. 10

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown diagrammatically a fragmentary view of a refrigerator cabinet 20. The cabinet 20 may be of any suitable construction of the household type. Within the cabinet 15 20 there is disposed a refrigerant evaporating element 22 to which is operatively connected 9. refrigerant condensing element 24.

The evaporating element 22 comprises, in general, a tank 26 divided by a separator 21 into an 20 upper compartment 28, which is adapted to be filled with brine, and a lower compartment 29 for the storage of articles to be refrigerated at low temperatures. A plurality of sleeves 3|, 32 and 33 are disposed within the brine compart- 25 ment extending from the front of the tank to the rear thereof. These sleeves are sealed against the brine in the compartment 28. A relatively small refrigerant expansion coil 36 is disposed in the form of spiral coil in good thermal 30 contact with the underside of sleeve 33. The coil 36 is connected to a somewhat larger expansion coil 38, which is helically wound around sleeves 3| and 32. Liquid refrigerant is first delivered to the small coil 36 whence it passes into the larger coil 38. The sleeves 3|, 32 and 33 are arranged for receiving ice making receptacles 40 for freezing ice cubes and the like.

The refrigerant condensing element 24 com-' prises, in general, a compressor 42, motor 43 for 0 operating the compressor, condenser 45, and a combination liquid refrigerant receiver and high side float mechanism 46. The compressor withdraws evaporated refrlgerant from" the element 22 through a vapor return conduit 48, compresses 5 the gaseous refrigerant and delivers it to the condenser wherein it is liquefied and from which it is delivered into the housing of the receiverfloat valve mechanism. Liquid refrigerant is refrigerant through the coils 36 and 38 and to the outlet end 52 of coil 38 during normal operation of the system. Thus, refrigeration is insured throughout the entire length of coils 36 and 38.

In order to prevent the slop-over of liquid refrigerant'from'the outlet 52 of coil 38 into the vapor return conduit 48, I have provided a refrigerant accumulator 68. The accumulator 68 comprises, in general, a fitting 6I having an inlet 82, which is connected to the outlet 52 of coil 38, and an outlet 63, which is connected to vapor conduit 48. The accumulator also includes a dome 65. Within the dome 65 is disposed a standpipe 66 having its upper extremity terminating adjacent the top of the dome and its lower end being disposed in open communication with the outlet 63. During normal operation, liquid refrigerant is delivered through the coils 36 and 38 up to the outlet end 52 of the coil 38. Thus, it will be noted that very little, if any, liquid refrigerant is delivered to the interior of the accumulator during normal operation of the system It will also be noted that any variations in the charge of liquid refrigerant admitted to the system is immaterial, since it would be necessary to rise in the accumulator to a point above the upper end of standpipe 66 before the liquid would be delivered to the vapor conduit. Thus, it will be noted that the accumulator takes care of variations in the charge of refrigerant introduced into the system.

In order to prevent the slop-over of liquid refrigerant into the vapor conduit during any abnormal operation of the system, such, for ex-- ample, as a leaky float valve mechanism, I have A constructed the accumulator of sumcient size as to accommodate all of the liquid refrigerant in the system which is not contained in the coils 36 and 38. Thus, the possibility of frost back of the vapor conduit or destruction to parts of the compressor is eliminated since no liquid refrigerant passes into the vapor conduit 48. Another form of abnormal operation of the system may include the continuous insertion of warm substances in the trays 48 to be frozen. When this occurs, the system operates more than normal and evaporation takes place in coils 36 and 38 much faster than normally thus causing more liquid to pass through said coils. In a system of the type herein disclosed, it is usual to place the outlet of the combination liquid refrigerant receiver at the lowermost part thereof. Thus, any leakage of the float valve mechanism results in passage of all of the liquid in said receiver into the coils 36 and 38: Thus, an accumulator of sufficient size to accommodate all of the liquid in the system not contained in the coils 36 and 38'readily serves at all times to prevent the flow of liquid into the condensing element or conduit 48. Preferably, the accumulator is disposed at the rear of element 22in a vertical position.

Preferably, the system is intermittently oper-,v ated. In order to control the operation of .athe

system, I-providean automatic switch I8 which controls the motor circuit to the power "mains I I with the fitting 6| of accumulator so; where the expansion and'contraction'of the fluid in bulb I3 will be influenced by changes intemperatures at the outlet of coil 38 and changes in temperatures of the circulating air in the cabinet 28.

In order to prevent'refrigeration taking placeimmediately upon entrance of the liquid refrigerant into the supply conduit 48 after leaving the float mechanism 46, I have provided a pressure responsive valve I5. This valve interconnects conduit 48 and coil 36. The valve I maintains 5 the pressures in the supply conduit 49 sufliciently high enough to prevent refrigeration in conduit 49 to the extent of collection of frost thereon. This prevents loss of refrigeration and increases the capacity of the apparatus. Any suitable pressure responsive valve may be used for this purpose such, for example, as a weighted valve proper (not shown) responsive to changes in pressures in conduit 49.

Referring now to Fig. 8, there is shown an in- 5 sulated cabinet I82 having a compartment I83 which is suitable for the cooling of bottled goods and the like. Within the compartment I83 there is disposed a metallic plate I86, which is preferably located on the bottom wall thereof. A refrigerant expansion conduit I88, which is arranged in the form of a serpentine coil, is secured to the plate I86 in any suitable manner, such as by solder. Preferably, the plate I86 and coil I88 extend over substantially the entire bottom wall of the compartment I83. Liquid refrigerant is delivered to the coil I88 through a liquid supply conduit II8 after passing through pressure responsive valve III, which may correspond to the pressure responsive valve I5 shown in Fig. 2. An outlet end II2 of the coil I88 is connected to a refrigerant accumulator I I4, which is the same as accumulator 68. Evaporated refrigerant is withdrawn from the accumulator I I4 through vapor return conduit I I5. A refrigerant condensing element similar to the element 24 may be connected to the liquid conduit H8 and vapor return conduit II5. A thermostatic fluid containing buib H6 is connected to one of the parallel portions of the coil I88 and is operatively associated with a switch mechanism, for instance, similar to the switch mechanism I8, for controlling the operation of the switch' in response to changes in temperature within the coil I88. In a bottle cooler of the type herein disclosed, a quantity of water or brine solution may be introduced into the compartment I83 and the bottles placed in the compartment in contact with the coil I88 and surrounded by the water or brine solution in the compartment I83 so that 60 the bottles will be uniformly and efficiently cooled, and to serve as a holdover.

In Fig. 6, there is disclosed a bottle cooler wherein the contents of the bottles are cooled by the air in the cabinet instead of by a liquid medium. In this type of cabinet the possibilities of labels coming off the bottles is eliminated. In Fig. 6, there is shown a cabinet I28 having a compartment I22, the upper -end of which is closed by a movable lid or cover I23. -Within the compartment I22 there is disposed a series of vertical plates I25, I26 and I21, which are spaced apart to permit the placing of bottles I28 between the plates. Refrigerant expansion coil I38 is associated with the plates I25, I26 and I21.

The coil or conduit I38 is arranged in three sections, each of which is in the form of a serpentine coil, first, one section BI is associated with I21 where a third section I33, in the form of a serpentine-like coil is placed in contact with the plate I21. Liquid refrigerant enters the expansion coil I30 at an inlet end I34 whence it passes through section I 3|, portion I35 of the conduit or coil I30, then through section I32 and portion I36 of coil I30 into section I33. The section I33 is connected to a refrigerant accumulator I42 by a portion I43 of conduit I30. The accumulator I42 is the same as accumulator 60. Liquid refrigerant is supplied to the expansion coil I30 through a liquid supply conduit I44 after passing through a pressure responsive valve I45, which corresponds to the valve 15. Evaporated refrigerant is withdrawn from the accumulator I42 through a vapor return conduit I41. A fluid containing thermostatic bulb I is associated with one of the parallel portions of the expansion coil, section I3I, which is associated with the plate I25 and is operatively connected with the switch mechanism similar to the switch I0 for controlling the operation of the condensing element, which may be, for example, the element 24. If desired, the thermostatic bulb I50 may be placed in thermal contact with an inlet connection I5I of the accumulator I42 so that it will be responsive to changes in temperatures in the portion I43 of the expansion coil I30 to thus control the operation of the switch and electric motor in response to changes in temperatures at the outlet of the expansion coil I30. In devices of this type, the bottled goods may be placed between the plates and between the side walls of the cabinet and the plates where the refrigerating effect of the expansion coil I30 will be sufficient to cool the contents of the bottled goods to the proper temperatures, without the necessity of providing a liquid circulating medium within compartment I22 to aid in uniformly cooling the bottled goods. This is advantageous in the event it is desired to retain the labels on the bottles until the goods may be sold.

In the bottle cooler shown in Figs. 6 and '7 only one refrigerated plate may be used if desired. When only one refrigerated plate is used, it is preferable to place it in a vertical position adjacent one of the vertical walls of the compartment I22 for cooling the bottled goods similarly as the bottles are cooled in the apparatus shown in Fi 8.

Although only a preferred form of the invention has been illustrated, and that form described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A refrigerating system comprising a low pressure portion and a relatively high pressure portion, said high pressure portion including a combination liquid refrigerant receiver and float valve mechanism, said valve mechanism being so positioned in said system as to permit all of the liquid refrigerant in the high pressure portion to pass to the relatively low pressure portion in the event of abnormal operation of said valve mechanism and said low pressure portion including a refrigerant accumulator, the quantity of liquid refrigerant contained in said system being so proportioned and controlled by said valve mechanism that only a relatively small, if any,

portion of the accumulator is filled with liquid refrigerant during normal operation of said valve mechanism, said accumulator being of sufiicient size to accommodate all of the liquid refrigerant in said system which is not contained in the other 5 part of the low pressure portion in the event of said abnormal operation of said valve mechanism. and said accumulator having an outlet for gaseous refrigerant in the lower part thereof and including standpipe means of sufiicient length 10 associated with said outlet to prevent the passage of liquid refrigerant through said outlet.

2. A refrigerating system comprising a refrigerant evaporating element, a refrigerant accumulator connected to the outlet of said element, means for circulating refrigerant through said element, a vapor return conduit interconnecting said means and said accumulator, a liquid supply conduit associated with said means and said element, and means for controlling the 20 flow ofliquid refrigerant to said element, the quantity of liquid refrigerant contained in said system being so calibrated and controlled by said latter means that the quantity of liquid refrigerant delivered to the evaporating element is suflicient to pass to the outlet thereof so that a relatively small portion of the accumulator is filled with liquid refrigerant during normal operation of the system, said accumulator being of sufficient size to-accommodate all of the liquid 30 refrigerant in the system which is not contained in the evaporating element and which is delivered to the accumulator during abnormal operation of said system and said accumulator having an outlet for gaseous refrigerant in the lower part thereof and including standpipe means of sufficient length associated with said outlet to prevent the passage of liquid refrigerant through said outlet.

3. In a cooler, the combination with a cabinet 40 having a compartment, of a refrigerating plate forming substantially the bottom wall of said compartment, said compartment being arranged to receive bottled goods to be refrigerated, and adapted to contain a quantity of liquid in which the bottles are immersed for uniformly cooling the contents of the bottles, a high side fioat for controlling the flow of liquid refrigerant to said refrigerating plate, a refrigerant accumulator associated with the outlet of said refrigerating plate and being vertically disposed in said compartment and a refrigerant condensing element associated with said high side float and accumula or.

4. In a cooler, the combination with a cabinet having a compartment, of a refrigerating coil forming substantially the bottom wall of said compartment, said compartment being arranged to receive bottled goods to be refrigerated, and adapted to contain a quantity of liquid in which the bottles are immersed for uniformly cooling the contents of the bottles, a high side float for controlling the flow of liquid refrigerant to said refrigerating coil, a refrigerant accumulator associated with the outlet of said refrigerating coil and being disposed in said compartment, and a refrigerant condensing element associated with said high side float and accumulator.

LAWRENCE A. PHILIPP. 

